Program Booklet-Broward Early Childhood Educators Conference 2010

PIPER HIGH SCHOOL, 8000 NW 44th St Lauderhill, FL 33351

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TITLE SPONSOR

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PPEENNNNYY WWEESSTTBBEERRRRYY Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc. Chief Executive Officer

DDRR.. BBAARRBBAARRAA WWEEIINNSSTTEEIINN Family Central, Inc. President/CEO

On behalf of the Coalition Members, the staff, and thousands of families served through VPK and preschool programs, I want to welcome you to the Broward Early Childhood Educators Conference. This conference is full of unique workshops that have been targeted to meet the needs of professionals like you in the classroom. Each year, our partners in the Early Care and Education System look for ways to acknowledge the hard work conducted by early learning professionals and to improve the quality of early care and education in our community.

What better way to do this than to offer a full day of affordable professional development workshops? As in past years, this conference was planned with you in mind, and I am sure that you will find the workshops interesting and informative. For this, we have to thank the conference planning committee, led by Family Central Inc., and other dedicated early care and education system partners and professionals from within the community who spent many months planning this wonderful educational opportunity. I applaud your participation in this conference and celebrate your dedication to early learning. As each year passes, I see the pursuit of excellence for children and families continue to blossom. Enjoy the workshops.

On behalf of the children, we thank you for your attendance at today‘s conference and for giving up a Saturday in order to better prepare to ensure children are successful in school and in life. We know that children learn best when they are actively engaged in meaningful learning through free exploration and play, when they are valued and celebrated, and their environments are appropriate for their age and stages of development. Every stage in a child‘s development is unique and so must be the classrooms and the teachers that create their success. In order for children to achieve their potential, we as adults must be supportive in creating a secure, nurturing, learning and safe environment. You have proven your commitment to the children by attending today‘s conference; you will help guide their future. You are dedicated and caring… 3 cheers for what you do!

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Title Sponsor Special Presentation Speaker Thomas F. Lamb, Jr. Thomas F. Lamb, Jr. is senior vice president of Government Affairs for The PNC Financial Services Group. Lamb is responsible for managing PNC‘s government affairs activities at the federal, state and local levels, and works with individual PNC businesses to affect public policy in support of PNC‘s business strategies. Lamb formerly managed PNC‘s business relationships with the federal government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lamb rejoined PNC in 1995, having previously served as manager of Corporate Public Relations for GE Capital. Prior to that, he served as vice president of Corporate and Public Affairs for PNC. Lamb also served as staff director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor and legislative director and legislative assistant to the Honorable Austin J. Murphy of the U.S. House of Representatives. Lamb is past chairman of the American Bankers Association's Legislative Liaison Advisory Committee, is a member of the ABA's Government Relations Committee, and serves on the board of ABA BankPAC. He is past chairman of the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable's Government Affairs Committee, is a member of the board of directors of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, the Invest in Kids Working Group, and the management committee of the Partnership for Quality Pre-Kindergrten. Lamb earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and economics from Boston College.

PNC’s “Grow Up Great” – An Unprecedented Early Childhood Education Initiative Quality learning in a child‘s early years is essential for their long-term success. That‘s why PNC Bank developed Grow Up Great, a 10-year, $100 million investment in school readiness to help prepare children from birth to age five for success in school and life. Founded by The PNC Financial Services Group, Grow Up Great is considered to be one of the most comprehensive corporate-based school readiness programs in the nation. The program provides leadership, advocacy, resources and volunteers to assist parents, caregivers and communities in their efforts to increase the potential for young children to succeed In addition to an advisory council of some of the nation‘s most highly respected early childhood experts, PNC Grow Up Great has partnered with equally esteemed nonprofit organizations to guide this initiative including Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, and Family Communications, Inc., producer of Mister Rogers‘ Neighborhood. At PNC, we‘re very proud of our commitment to early childhood education, and volunteerism is a large part of this commitment. PNC employees receive 40 paid hours off a year to volunteer through the Grow Up Great program. Volunteerism is not only a vital part of the Grow Up Great program, but also something that our employees feel strongly about. We continue to seek and create lasting relationships with early childhood education centers in our communities so they may benefit from these volunteer opportunities. PNC is dedicated to providing resources to help children succeed in school and, ultimately, in life. When we provide assistance to high-quality early education and school readiness initiatives, we‘re quite literally making an investment in our future. Please visit www.pncgrowupgreat.com to learn more.

http://www.pncgrowupgreat.com/

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Legislative Award Recipient Ari Abraham Porth Since 1995, Ari has served as an Assistant State Attorney for Broward County. Since November 3, 2004, he has been serving the residents of Coral Springs, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Sunrise and North Lauderdale as their State Representative. In the House, Ari is assigned to the Health Services Policy Council and ranking Democrat on the Health Regulations Committee. Ari has made children‘s issues the cornerstone of his time in the legislature. He was the House sponsor of landmark legislation relating to Autism and collaborated with former foster youth on two important bills relating to our most vulnerable youth. For the past three sessions he‘s hosted youth from foster and relative care in Tallahassee to serve as pages and messengers. Significantly, Ari is the founder of the Early Childhood Caucus of the Florida Legislature. This first of its kind effort has attracted wide, bi-partisan support and has served to focus attention on policy issues relating to early childhood education. He recognizes that a strategic focus on early childhood development in Florida makes sense not only from a public policy standpoint, but also from fiscal, public safety and economic development perspectives. Community service and volunteerism are important parts of Ari‘s life. He plays an active role in a number of organizations including Past President for the B‘nai B‘rith Justice Unit, Board Member of the Coral Springs/Parkland Chapter and National Commission Member of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Board Member of the Coral Springs Multi-cultural Advisory Committee, Past Chair of the Florida Ocean Sciences Institute (an alternative school for juvenile offenders), Founding Board Member of the Business Professionals for the Children‘s Home Society, Committee Member for Legal Aid of Broward County‘s ―Annual For the Public Good‖, Board Member for the Hatikvah House (a group home in Coral Springs for developmentally disabled adults). Ari and his wife Tatyana reside in Coral Springs with their son,Gabriel, and their Golden Retriever, Lilly.

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Keynote Speaker – Preschool VPK

David Garcia M.S., BCBA Mr. Garcia is the Clinical Director for Behavior Analysis, Inc. and its Florida Autism Treatment Centers. He earned his Master of Science degree in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas in 1996 and is nearing completion of his doctoral studies at Florida Atlantic University. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and provides training, mentoring and supervision to other individuals seeking certification in behavior analysis. Mr. Garcia works with a variety of populations including typically developing children, children with behavioral disorders and dual diagnoses as well as with autism and related disabilities. Mr. Garcia has also conducted over 80 training workshops for teachers, parents, and mental health professionals throughout the United States and internationally on topics related to students with a wide range of needs. He has provided training for teachers and other educators in school districts throughout the United States for more than 12 years. Mr. Garcia has taught behavior analysis and teacher education courses at Florida Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University. He taught Behavior Analysis Certification Board- approved preparation courses for students seeking behavior analysis certification. In addition to his extensive training and teaching experience he is currently an expert witness for the Dade County judicial system on issues related to students with autism and recently co-developed several new graduate level University courses for Florida Atlantic University as part of the Florida Autism Endorsement Program for the Exceptional Student Education department. Mr. Garcia has also published several studies related to problem behaviors and persons with disabilities and has served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Most recently, he was selected as the Outstanding Clinician of the Year by the University of Miami/Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.

Keynote Speaker – Infant/Toddler

Lois Wachtel Lois Wachtel is the heart and soul of Creative Beginning Steps, a company that she formed with her husband, Stan, in 2008 for the purpose of presenting quality, interactive, and FUN Early Childhood workshops for teachers, directors, and parents. After spending the last 16 years as Director and Pre-K teacher of a tremendously successful and recognized Pre-School, Lois brings a wealth of knowledge to her new voyage. Miss Lois has quickly gained recognition as the Squish-Squash Lady of Early Childhood, and her enthusiasm is evident in each presentation.

Having graduated from California State University with a degree in Communications and Public Speaking, Lois entered the field of Early Childhood when searching for the ―right‖ pre-school for her son, Adam, who is now 23 years old. Questioning some of what she observed, Lois looked for answers, all of which she found by returning to school to study Early Childhood Education. The rest, as they say, is history.

Lois‘ initial goal for Creative Beginning Steps was to remain within the state of Florida for the first 3 years. However, Lois is proud to say that she has presented several highly successful workshops for the NAEYC conference in Chicago, Texas, and Washington; this year, she will again be presenting her NEW art workshop, which is filled with even more squishing and squashing. Along with Ron Mohl, from Lakeshore Learning, Lois was a Keynote presenter at the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee Conference and a Featured Presenter at this year‘s FLAEYC Conference, as well as presenting at numerous Early Childhood conferences throughout Florida. She is the author of 2 Early Childhood books, Creative Beginning Steps to Art and Creative Beginning Steps to Reading and a Reading Partner from the Early Literacy Coalition in Palm Beach County. In 2009, Lois was named Adjunct Professor of the Year for her Early Childhood teaching

In her spare time, Lois loves to squish-squash yummy dishes in the kitchen, read, relax in her pool, and of course, spend time with her husband and son!

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Title Sponsor PNC Bank

Special Sponsors

A.D. Henderson Foundation Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.

Key Sponsor

Lakeshore Learning

Sponsors Children’s Services Council of Broward Kaplan Early Learning Company

Champion Sponsors

Becker’s School Supplies JK Children Supply, Inc. School Specialty Childcraft Education Corp.

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-Conference Schedule-

(.5 CEUs 3 workshop sessions) Conference Workshop: October 16, 2010 7:00 - 4:00 Visit Exhibitor Displays 7:00 - 8:00 Registration/Exhibit/Breakfast 8:00 - 8:30

Preschool/VPK/Director

(Large Auditorium)

Infant/Toddler

(Small Auditorium) Welcome Dr. Carol Wasserman, VP of Voluntary Prekindergarten and Special Projects, Family Central, Inc.

Katherine Danio, Program Director A.D. Henderson Foundation

Legislative Award Dr. Barbara Weinstein, President/CEO, Family Central, Inc.

Title Sponsor Special Presentation Thomas Lamb, SVP Government Affairs, PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC Bank‘s ―Grow Up Great‖-An Unprecedented Initiative for Early Childhood Education

Keynote Introduction Penny Westberry, CEO The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.

Keynote Presenter David Garcia, M.S., BCBA

Welcome Yanick Goutier, Director of Early Care and Education, Family Central, Inc.

Keynote Introduction Penny Westberry, CEO The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.

Keynote Presenter Lois Wachtel Creative Beginning Steps

Title Sponsor Special Presentation Thomas Lamb, SVP Government Affairs, PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC Bank‘s ―Grow Up Great‖-An Unprecedented Initiative for Early Childhood Education

Closing Remarks Katherine Danio, Program Director A.D. Henderson Foundation

Dr. Barbara Weinstein, President/CEO, Family Central, Inc.

9:00 - 9:15 Transition – Exhibits

9:15 -11:15 Workshop Session I See Schedule: Pages 16-22

11:15 -12:15 Lunch – Exhibits

12:15 -12:30 Transition – Exhibits

12:30 -2:00 Workshop Session II See Schedule: Pages 23-29

2:00 -2:15 Break - Transition – Exhibits

2:15 - 4:00 Workshop Session III See Schedule: Pages 30-36 Conference Evaluation

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- TTT HHH AAA NNN KKK YYY OOO UUU -

Broward Early Childhood Educators Committee

I want to thank the Broward Early Childhood Educators Conference Committee for its commitment and dedication

to providing a quality professional development day for Infant/ Toddler, VPK/Preschool teachers and directors. Throughout the year you have taken time to devote yourself to this conference

which truly speaks to your character. As a result of your diligence in the planning of this wonderful professional development day,

the young children of Broward, their teachers and directors will all benefit.

My sincerest thanks for your ongoing support. -Carol Wasserman-

Infant Toddler, VPK/Preschool Teachers and Directors

Our thanks to all the teachers and directors who nurture the

capacities of all learners as you play a key role in the children’s growth and development.

“You touch children’s lives forever!” - Carol Wasserman-

- Yanick Goutier -

Community Partners

I want to thank Family Central’s VPK and Early Care and Education staff for their assistance with the conference as well as

the volunteers from numerous community organizations: -Carol Wasserman-

A World of Knowledge Pre-School Abundant Life Christian Academy

BAEYC BB International Preschool

Brauser Maimonides Academy Broward County Public Schools

Broward County Child Licensing and Enforcement Family Central, Inc.

First United Methodist Church Preschool Florida Child Care Professional Credential Students

Hollywood Hills United Methodist School Jack & Jill Children‘s Center

One Step At A Time Learning Academy Piper High School Volunteer Broward

Wyndham Learning Center Youth Impact, Inc

A Special Thank You

A.D Henderson Foundation – 1,000 CEU Scholarships Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.–1,000 Resource Books

Broward Early Childhood Educators Committee

Dr. Carol Wasserman-Chair Family Central, Inc.

Yanick Goutier-Co-Chair Family Central, Inc. Ana Maria Malavenda-Garcia One Step At A Time Learning Academy

Andrea Zabel Broward County, Quality Rating System

Angie Michel Children‘s Services Council

Anita Platt Broward County, Quality Rating System

Bethany Marcusson Family Central, Inc.

Diane Tischler Soref JCC Dr. Ilene Miller Broward County Public Schools

Elizabeth Gonzalez A World of Knowledge Pre-School

Elizabeth Mustafa Family Central, Inc.

Joy Gordon New Mirawood Academy

Julia D. Musella BB International Preschool

Julie Bergstrom First United Methodist Church Preschool

K. Lee Tirpak Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.

Khalil Zeinieh Family Central, Inc. Layne Polakoff Wyndham Learning Center

Leticia Strasser Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.

Marjie Cohn-Dolan BAEYC

Mary Jean Woika Nova Southeastern University

Michelle Sponder Family Central, Inc.

Monica Pujol-Nassif Family Central, Inc.

Sharon Cohen Children‘s Services Council

Stacy Angier Abundant Life Christian Academy

Dr. Wendi Siegel

Youth Impact, Inc.

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NOTES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE DAY

1. We are excited about hosting a conference for 1,000 participants. Please be respectful of each

other when trying to enter a workshop session.

2. Each workshop session has a capacity of participants (stated in program). The presenter

assistant has the corresponding number of stickers to issue for CEUs. Therefore, no additional

participants can enter that session regardless of the number of seats physically in the room.

3. If you have entered a room that has been deemed full, you WILL NOT receive a colored label for

your class, and you WILL NOT receive your CEU credits.

4. If a Presenter Assistant or Hall Monitor advises you that the class is full, please proceed to the

next workshop quickly.

5. Please make sure to complete your Conference Evaluation which will be given to you at the end

of session 3. Your responses are valuable in assisting the committee in future planning

6. Lunch- each of you has the type of lunch you selected written on your badge. Please find the line

with the corresponding name (i.e. ham) to get your lunch.

7. Please feel free to visit with the exhibitors and then get your lunch to help us serve lunch to 1,000

people in a calm and effective manner.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

A Message to All Teachers

Dear Teachers,

As we journey through another school year, remember that you are each child’s role model.

The actions you show your students is the

reflection you see in them.

They will learn kindness if you are kind. They will learn to respect if you show them respect.

They will follow a plan if you lay out a plan. They will be happy if you show them you are happy.

They will be excited if you make it exciting. They will have self-control if you show self-control.

They will be creative if you let them be creative. They will know love because you will show them love.

Submitted by:

Elizabeth Gonzalez, Owner/Director A World of Knowledge Preschool and Learning Center

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PLEASE NOTE THAT ROOMS HIGHLIGHTED ARE THE CONFERENCE SESSION CLASSROOMS

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Workshop Session I 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Views expressed in the workshops are the presenters and are not to be attributed to Family Central, Inc., the Early Learning Coalition of Broward

County, Inc. and any other partners and sponsors of this conference.

Room 100 Preschool/VPK & Infant/Toddler Language & Literacy Rm Capacity 75

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I Activities to Increase Language and Literacy for Young Children Suzanne Gellens, M.S.- Florida Association for the Education of Young Children This workshop will help teachers to understand how young children acquire language and what activities can help them begin the process of learning to read and write. The presenter will introduce the book, ―Activities That Build the Young Child‘s Brain‖, a resource when writing lesson plans for the preschool classroom. Explore recent brain research and get tips on how to create a brain compatible classroom. The presenter will discuss different ways to use books to help children build critical thinking skills and encourage creative writing.

Room 522 Director Professional Development Rm Capacity 20

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An Overview of the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards Antrica T. Morgan - Agency for Workforce Innovation- Office of Early Learning Florida‘s Early Learning and Developmental Standards is a comprehensive document containing age- appropriate information and reflections concerning how young children explore, create, and think. They provide the early learning community with a seamless set of standards that will aid the efforts to improve the quality of care and education for all young children. The session will provide an overview, video clips, and instruction on how to appropriately incorporate these standards into every daily experience planned and implemented for the young children in the providers‘ care.

Room 216 Preschool/VPK Screening Assessment and Evaluation Rm Capacity 20

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ASQ For Developing Preschool Children [3-5 years] Claudette Hinds - Family Central, Inc. This workshop was developed for facilities with ELC service agreements. The presenter will provide information about Broward County‘s uniform screening service, an overview of the newly revised ASQ screening tool, and age-appropriate windows to developmental benchmarks.


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Assessing Dual Language Learners: Hands-On Strategies for Supporting Monolingual English-Speaking Teachers in the Assessment Process Carol Bellamy - Teaching Strategies Inc. The presenter will provide an overview of the structure of Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment system. Examine the areas of development and learning and then look at those specific objectives and dimensions which detail the developmental skills and abilities for all children birth through kindergarten. Participants will learn how the dimensions can be viewed as a progression of development and learning starting with the simplest skill to a more complex expectation. We will discuss how the objectives and dimensions of the system can be used to assess all children, including children who are English-language learners and children with special needs.

Room 126 Preschool/VPK Family Involvement & Support Rm Capacity 20

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Building Student Self-Esteem in the Classroom Steven A. Goren, Ph.D In this interactive presentation, the presenter will discuss the importance of building student self esteem. Productivity and happiness depends on how a student sees him/herself. Early childhood practitioners at the earliest grade levels hold the keys to future happiness in their hands as they are in a unique position to mold the student‘s belief system for a lifetime. Participants will receive some practical ways to do this.

D: Directors Track P: Preschool/VPK Track

I/T: Infant/Toddler Track

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Room 108 Preschool/VPK Family Involvement & Support Rm Capacity 20

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Collaborating with Parents for a Child’s Success Stacey Hoaglund - Family Network on Disabilities This training will focus on educating school staff (teachers or administrators) on how to facilitate collaboration with the parents of the children in their center/school. Educators will learn how children can exhibit a much truer level of success when all parties are focused on the strengths and needs of the individual student. This training will encompass typically developing students who may require enriching activities to spur their academic and social interest, children with behavioral needs that are not necessarily associated with developmental delays or disabilities, and children with special needs that may require additional classroom and home supports and strategies.

Room 303 Preschool/VPK Art Rm Capacity 30

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Creativity at Your Fingertips Janis Deitsch - Family Central, Inc. Even if you feel that you don‘t have a creative bone in your body - YOU can do Arts & Crafts! In this hands-on workshop you‘ll have fun with several easy-to-implement projects that will showcase a variety of important fine-motor skills. You will discover the scope of art activities and how they can relate to all areas of your children‘s development. Instructions for additional projects will be available.

Room 112 Preschool/VPK Developmentally Appropriate Practices Rm Capacity 20

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Curriculum Application for Early Childhood Educators Patricia L. McGilchrist - Bethel Christian Academy Presenter will assist teachers to apply their knowledge of early childhood practices in a more effective manner. All developmental areas will be taken into consideration so that they will be able plan activities that will stimulate the children‘s imagination. Participants will discuss cognitive, language development, social -emotional and physical activities.

Room 213 Infant/Toddler Child Growth & Development Rm Capacity 25

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Developmental Milestones and Early Intervention Services Within a Child Care Setting Barbara Kalish, Ph.D, Kathy Carroll, M.S., CCC-SLP & Debbie Goboff – Children‘s Diagnostic & Treatment Center In this workshop, the presenters will discuss what skills and behaviors to expect at various ages (birth to three years) and how to recognize warning signs for children who may not be developing typically. They will share practical teaching activities and strategies that promote growth in each area of development. Participants will receive an overview of the Broward Early Steps Program provided by Infant Toddler Developmental Specialists (ITDS), examine the process for referring a child who may have a developmental delay, and specifically discuss how the ITDS consults with the infant/toddler classroom teachers and support staff.


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Discovering Your Students’ Preferred Learning Style LeVorn V. Swanson, M.S. If you are wondering why some of your students ―Just Don‘t Get It‖, why you have ―behavior problems‖ in the classroom, or why your students seem frustrated, it could be as simple as understanding the different ―learning styles‖ of your students. Every child comes into the world ready to learn. Children may learn through a combination of the different styles, but there is one style that they may favor over the others. ~Visual, Auditory, Physical (Kinesthetic) ~. We all have learning styles. Which one is yours?

Room 209 Infant/Toddler Health & Safety Rm Capacity 25

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Drowning Prevention Kim Burgess - Broward County Health Department The presenter will introduce a recent study conducted by the Broward County Health Department that shows a relationship between the cases of drowning involving children in Broward County, to homes that have been visited by the Child Protection Investigation Services (CPIS) due to violence, criminal activity, drug abuse, and/or neglect. She will discuss a county wide drowning prevention initiative that is being implemented through the Broward drowning prevention initiative that is being implemented through the Broward County Drowning Prevention Task Force, which targets families involved with CPIS. She will also explore causes of drowning and near drowning incidents.

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Room 106 Preschool/VPK Health & Safety Rm Capacity 20

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Eating Smart from the Start Tamika S. Handfield MS, RD, LD/N - Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth (FLIPANY) According to the Centers for Diseases (CDC), 1 in 7 low-income, pre-school age children is obese. Childhood obesity is so prevalent that it is now termed an epidemic indicating the dire need to introduce healthy eating to children at an early age. This highly interactive and dynamic workshop will aim to provide preschool educators with the tools needed to teach their students about healthy eating by encouraging the providers to select and prepare nutritious, safe, and low-cost meals and snacks for the children in their care.

Room 523 Director Administration Rm Capacity 20

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Evaluating An Employee’s Performance Dawn K. Martini - Ronald V. McGuckin & Associates This seminar will focus on the importance of conducting accurate employee performance appraisals. Participants will be presented with legal issues and suits which have risen from inaccurate performance appraisals. Participants will discuss the link between an accurate job description and the performance appraisal and will learn how to prepare for and present a performance appraisal to the employee. Different types of performance appraisals will be discussed, including the benefits of each, as well as the value of the employee conducting a Self-Appraisal.

Room 210 Infant/Toddler Developmentally Appropriate Practices Rm Capacity 25

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Exploring Blocks with Infants and Toddlers Rebecca Bloomfield M.Ed.,SLP - School Specialty, Inc. Block play involves the whole child. It encourages children to explore and experiment with muscles, senses, intellect, emotion, and social interaction. Discover block play for your infants and toddlers, and why it is so much more than just mathematics and spatial relationships.


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Handling Difficult Conversations Cynthia Krosky, CSP, LCSW - Achieving Corporate Excellence, Inc. Do you ever feel intimidated or feel that you lack confidence to handle tough topics? Would you like to increase your confidence and finesse? Decrease resistance when handling these situations by learning professional methods for communicating effectively that eliminate communication snags and excuses for avoiding difficult conversations. The presenter will provide instant solutions, interactive discussion, and a resource handout to take home.

Room 120 Preschool/VPK Language & Literacy Rm Capacity 20

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I Can Read! I Can Write! In Preschool Shelley Freshman - School Board of Broward County, FL Reading and writing is a process that cannot be separated. Children increase their vocabularies and command of the language through a variety of literacy experiences. This workshop will give the teacher and teacher assistant ideas for setting the stage for Emergent Literacy in their preschool classrooms.

Room 125 Preschool/VPK VPK - Develop Appropriate Practices Rm Capacity 20

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I Know It. How Do I Do It? Norma S. Cahen, M.S. - Temple Kol Ami Emanuel Early Childhood Program You know and understand the VPK Language and Communication Standard. But do you know how to appropriately implement it? This workshop is designed to help the educator work through the Language and Communication Standard by understanding its intent. Listening leads to speaking. Speaking leads to vocabulary. From vocabulary we get sentences and structure but then what? How does the child make the connective phrases towards emergent literacy? The connection between knowing and implementing the standards is made utilizing two simple but appropriate to early childhood literature books: CAPS FOR SALE by Esphyr Slobodkina, and THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle.

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Room 105 Preschool/VPK Behavior Management Rm Capacity 20

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Identifying and Reducing Inappropriate Behavior in Young Children Dana Fredebaugh, Ph.D - Nova Southeastern University Teachers, parents, and classmates tend to feel that some children ―misbehave all the time‖. Participants will discuss what this ―misbehavior‖ looks like. The presenter will share methods of objectively observing a child‘s behavior in the classroom and other settings, to help teachers determine when, why, and where a child tends to exhibit inappropriate behavior. The presenter and participants will then share strategies for reducing the inappropriate behavior and explore when it may be appropriate to refer a child for evaluation.


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Improving Classroom Management Skills to Reduce Challenging Behavior Debbie Kay - Family Central, Inc. Are you seeing challenging behaviors in your classrooms? If you are, they can be reduced simply by creating developmentally appropriate classroom rules, schedules and routines, and using them intentionally. The training will include a power point, video clips, interactive activities and ―make ‗n takes‖. By the time you leave, you will be equipped to make the necessary changes in your classroom to help reduce inappropriate and disruptive behaviors.

Room 116 Preschool/VPK Professional Development Rm Capacity 20

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Integrating the Standards: Phonological Awareness Kerry M. Allen – VPK Regional Facilitator Participants will develop an understanding of phonological awareness benchmarks along with age-appropriate instructional and environmental strategies to prepare children for kindergarten.


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Linking Assessment to School Readiness and Success Diana Y. Gintner - Pearson Clinical Assessment Group In this workshop, the presenter will share information regarding assessment for universal screening and progress monitoring in early childhood settings. Screening young children for social and emotional skills, (including pro-social behavior, self-regulation, self-concept, and self-efficacy) in addition to the academic domains, is important as research demonstrates that these skills are significantly related to school readiness and future school success. It is critical to use observational assessment to systematically document children's skills, knowledge, behavior, and academic accomplishments, in addition to implementing continual progress monitoring. The presenter will discuss research-based observational assessment practices and explore future directions for strengthening early childhood assessments.

Mini Auditorium Preschool/VPK Language & Literacy Rm Capacity 40

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“Look Mommy, I’m an Author” - Bookmaking in Your Class Lois Wachtel - Creative Beginning Steps In this fun and interactive workshop, participants will follow the lead of their children, as we learn by doing. After discussing the importance of reading and bookmaking through the eyes of a child, we will look ―outside of the box‖ and design creative individual and class books. A potato chip can, a rolling pin, brown bags, and a soft sock will magically transform into books. With a few simple creases and folds, we will put a ―new‖ twist on traditional All About Me and Pop-Up books. Bring your imagination, as we create numerous class books together!

Room 215 Infant/Toddler Special Needs Rm Capacity 25

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Moving Beyond the Diagnosis: Supporting Young Children with Special Needs Lydia Bartram, MSW & Karen Slattery - Educational Research Center for Child Development This workshop will explore factors that affect typical development and instruction on how participants can identify potential developmental delays in young children. In addition, the presenter will introduce strategies to support children with special needs and their families by helping them move beyond the diagnosis both in the classroom and at home.

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Media Center Preschool/VPK Music and Movement Rm Capacity 20

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Music, Movement and Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom Lori Burns - Pearson Education During this workshop, participants will explore the stages of music and motor development in young children and the connection to social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Participants will investigate the relationship between strong motor-skill development and musical concepts that relate to higher-level cognitive functions. Strategies and music activities discussed will include experiences that develop phonemic awareness and phonemic skills. Examples include songs, finger plays, rhyme, and sequence patterns.

Room 314 Preschool/VPK Music and Movement Rm Capacity 50

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Musical Gestures and Textures for Kids Aaron Kula, M.S. - Florida Atlantic University Libraries Attendees will experience a ―face-to-face‖ live performance with four professional musicians playing violin, bass, saxophone, and accordion. The leader will examine various musical components such as melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, meter, instrumentation, and multiculturalism. Each song will include a performance, an analytical discussion, and a question and answer session. Suggestions will be provided for integrating musical ideas in the early childhood curriculum.


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Observing and Documenting Leads to Scaffolding Children’s Education Shari E. Young M. Ed. & Marcy E. Samuels Through mini lectures, hand on experiences and lots of interaction, participants will learn how to observe and document their students objectively. They will explore how to reflect on their documentation and design documentation panels, in order to create developmentally appropriate curriculum that can be customized to each child‘s skills level. Through this process the children will be able to scaffold their education and teachers will build close relationships with their students and their families.


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PBS Positive Behavior Supports: Building Relationships and Creating Supportive Environments Maria Hernandez & Karina La Banca - Family Central, Inc. The Positive Behavior Support Model is a proactive, team-based approach for creating and sustaining a safe and effective environment in centers to promote social-emotional development in children. The aim is prevention of problem behavior and the use of data-based problem-solving for addressing existing behavior concerns.

Room 214 Infant/Toddler Speech and Language Development Rm Capacity 25

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Preschool Speech & Language Development Bonnie Beck, M.S.CCC. - Speech Language Pathologist General aspects of speech and language development in the birth to 5 child will be presented. Red flags will be discussed to assist staff with identification of potential problems and when to make appropriate referrals.


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Putting Florida Core Competencies to Use Katherine Johnson, M.S. & Kathy Stepanek, M.S. - Palm Beach State College Institute of Excellence in Early Care and Education Presenters will disseminate information regarding the Florida Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Practitioners, and review the purpose of the document, the impact it will have on the state of Florida, and how these competencies fit into the professional development initiative across the state. The presentation will address how the Florida Core Competencies can be used within an education setting.


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Rocks in My Head Lina Lloyd, M.Ed. - Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County Some people have rocks in their gardens; some people have them in their pockets. I have rocks in my head. Come and learn some fun and interesting ways you can include rocks across the curriculum. Participants will have the opportunity to experience hands-on activities as well as obtain valuable lesson/materials information to take home.

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Staffing Your Center, Total Costs and Options for Success Laurance A. Milov - The Education Team: Your Placement Solution Passion and enthusiasm are not always enough to ensure the successful management of an early childhood education center. Many directors, increasingly bogged down by the burdens of indirect employment costs and their management responsibilities, are left with less time for the children and parents. Time consuming tasks, such as recruiting and training qualified staff, completing extensive and complex background screenings, and payroll all take valuable time and money away from their efforts. The focus of this presentation will be to introduce strategies that can offer directors/owners the opportunity to cut costs while spending more time doing what they love every day.


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The Gift of Calm: Stress Release Routines to Empower Children and Adults with Lifelong Skills for Wellness and Learning Jonathan Eastman, M.S. - Brainheart Guidance Inc. Teaching and modeling composure is the foundation of Conscious Discipline® to foster social-emotional & academic competence in young children. Through movement, songs, demonstration and role-play enhance your knowledge of how the brain functions best. The presenter will provide information on how to respond to upset children as well as specific ways to teach children to calm themselves using child friendly visuals and props. Participants will practice active calming exercises and ―language of safety‖ to integrate into the daily routine for increased cooperation and learning.


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The Plastic Brain: Unlocking the Full Potential of Students with Developmental Delays Dr. John Conde, DC, DACNB - The Conde Center For Chiropractic Neurology In this presentation, Dr. Conde will discuss Functional Disconnection Syndrome, an electrical imbalance in brain activity between the right and left sides of the brain. He will reveal how it can impact your classroom through children who exhibit learning or behavioral disorders such as AD/HD, Tourette‘s syndrome, autism, and Asperger‘s syndrome He will share practical strategies concerning the teaching styles these children require and specific techniques on how to control behavioral outbursts and lack of concentration.

Room 547 Director VPK-Professional Development Rm Capacity 20

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The VPK Assessment Melinda Webster & Hope Colle - Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning The presenter will share information about the new VPK Assessment which was piloted across the state during 2009-2010, and will be available statewide beginning in Fall 2010. It can be used in conjunction with many broad screening tools, but it looks specifically at emergent reading, mathematical thinking, and language/vocabulary skills. This session will primarily focus on early literacy skills and how the assessment tool can be used by teachers to assist in planning instruction to meet children's needs.


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The World of Language Jill Morgenstein - The School Board of Broward County Language is a system of communication through the use of speech, writing, and/or signs. It is used to convey experiences or meaning. Information will be shared about how children learn a first language and the steps they take to acquire a second language. Multiple hands-on activities will be conducted throughout this training.


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Time Management for Early Education Bradley Smith - National Institute of Childcare Management (NICCM) National statistics reveal that the average center director will only stay in their position 3-5 years. Often they are totally burnt out and may even leave the field altogether. Time management strategies can minimize this statistic and give directors gained control over their environment. Topics covered are: Learning to Control Interruptions, Developing a Proactive vs. a Reactive Leadership Strategy and Overcoming the Top Time Management Challenges.

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Room 211 Infant/Toddler Brain Research & Cognitive Development Rm Capacity 25

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Tools to Enhance Thinking in Young Children Dr. Angela K. Salmon & Dr. Teresa Lucas - Florida International University A growing body of evidence supports the efficacy of deliberately nurturing very young children‘s thinking abilities and encouraging their understanding of what thinking is. In this session, you will get acquainted with Harvard‘s Project Zero Visible Thinking approach and the use of strategies that can be used successfully right away with students of any age. The big ideas that will be covered in this session are: The Young Child‘s Inner Mind, Cultural Forces that Promote Thinking Dispositions and Cultures of Thinking, Teaching Strategies that Work in Early Childhood Settings and the Use of Documentation for Collaborative Inquiry and Learning.

Room 101 Infant/Toddler Behavior Management Rm Capacity 25

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Trauma and Play Therapy Jane Robinson, LMHC, RPT-S & Olga Idrissa, MHC - All ‗Bout Children, Inc. Research shows that children who experience chronic stress such as hunger, maltreatment or lack of nurturing, children who are deprived of quality health care and quality early care and education, and those who experience poor early childhood development, are less likely to be successful in school and in life. Through lecture, videos and experiential exercises, the participants will learn to identify trauma or chronic stress, and understand its impact on the social and emotional development of very young children. Discuss the use of play therapy techniques that can reduce the effects of trauma and create resiliency for these children.


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Treating the Whole Child Patricia A. LaBella, CCC-SLP-Patricia A. LaBella and Associates, PA aka "PAL CLINIC" Our goal as educators is to heighten a child‘s first look at formal education in such a way that they develop a joy for learning. The presenter will discuss the fundamental building blocks for effective learning and share why it is important to treat the ―whole‖ child. She will explore the fact that all children have strengths and weaknesses and they possess different learning styles. Participants will also receive information on physiological, environmental, or developmental barriers that prohibit children from progressing.

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Workshop Session II 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM




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7 Keys to Unlocking Success With the ECERS Andrea L. Zabel. M.Ed. - Broward County Quality Counts Participants will explore the seven key phrases to keep in mind when working to improve the quality of care they provide and their overall score on an Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R) assessment. They will also walk away with ideas for making improvements to the 6 primary subscales (a Quality Improvement Plan).


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A Fun Way to Fitness! Terri Braun – Kidokinetics With rising concerns related to childhood obesity, we have a responsibility to provide ALL children with physical fitness opportunities. Participants will learn about some trends and take back some ideas related to incorporating physical fitness into the curriculum. Attendees will learn techniques through a brief presentation, hands-on activities, a sample lesson plan, and an open discussion. The presenter will encourage participants to get up, get moving and have some fun!


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An Overview of the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards Antrica T. Morgan - Agency for Workforce Innovation- Office of Early Learning Florida‘s Early Learning and Developmental Standards is a comprehensive document containing age- appropriate information and reflections concerning how young children explore, create, and think. They provide the early learning community with a seamless set of standards that will aid the efforts to improve the quality of care and education for all young children. The session will provide an overview, video clips, and instruction on how to appropriately incorporate these standards into every daily experience planned and implemented for the young children in the providers‘ care.


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Activities That Build The infant/Toddler’s Brain Suzanne Gellens, M.S. - Florida Association for the Education of Young Children This workshop will help teachers create an environment necessary for very young children to thrive. The presenter will discuss recent brain research and how to create a brain compatible classroom. Participants will explore the book, ―Activities That Build the Young Child‘s Brain‖, a resource that will help them when writing lesson plans for the infant or toddler classroom. The concept of ―task talking‖ to help increase language acquisition will be introduced and attendees will have an opportunity to participate in songs and a variety of fun activities that will compliment the classroom curriculum.


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Art as a Tool for Teaching Penny Phillips - Young At Art Children‘s Museum Penny Phillips will share her strategies in planning activities and present how art can be utilized in early childhood curricula. After an introduction to African culture, language and art, she will demonstrate and provide a hands-on activity related to the theme. The presenter will discuss how people in Africa use their natural resources and reuse their materials. Participants will discover how mathematical thinking, cognitive thinking and fine motor skills can be implemented in the hands-on art activity. They will also learn the importance of using different types of shapes, colors, and texture to enhance children‘s critical and creative thinking skills.



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Room 216 Infant/Toddler Screening Assessment and Evaluation Rm Capacity 25

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ASQ For Developing Infants and Very Young Children [Birth-2 years] Claudette Hinds - Family Central, Inc. This workshop was developed for facilities with ELC service agreements. The presenter will provide information about Broward County‘s uniform screening service, an overview of the newly revised ASQ screening tool, and age-appropriate windows to developmental benchmarks.


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Assessing Dual Language Learners: Hands-On Strategies for Supporting Monolingual English-Speaking Teachers in the Assessment Process Carol Bellamy - Teaching Strategies Inc. The presenter will provide an overview of the structure of Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment system. Examine the areas of development and learning and then look at those specific objectives and dimensions which detail the developmental skills and abilities for all children birth through kindergarten. Participants will learn how the dimensions can be viewed as a progression of development and learning starting with the simplest skill to a more complex expectation. We will discuss how the objectives and dimensions of the system can be used to assess all children, including children who are English-language learners and children with special needs.


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Baby Einstein? Baby Mozart? What REALLY Makes Babies Smart? Karen Kerr - The Parent/Teacher Foundation Let‘s get back to baby basics! How do infants and toddlers learn? How do we support that learning? What Interferes with infant/toddler learning? Explore routine, room arrangement, materials and interactions that foster brain development.


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Cooking with Character Bill Griffin - Billgriffinbooks.com Cooking with Character contains over fifty recipes accompanied by fun character lessons and we will be cooking up a batch today! In today‘s presentation, we will discover Angry Mush (anger). When we lose our temper, it is something we do not need to retrieve. Next, we will cook a batch of Wordy Durds which teaches that letters must work together to make words. This is a fun and quick lesson on teamwork, not to mention delicious! Then we will also create a few Scar Faces. All people are unique- we come in different shapes, sizes, and color, but all of us need to be accepted. As we create this recipe, we learn the importance of acceptance.


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Creativity at Your Fingertips Janis Deitsch - Family Central, Inc. Even if you feel that you don‘t have a creative bone in your body - YOU can do Arts & Crafts! In this hands-on workshop you‘ll have fun with several easy-to-implement projects that will showcase a variety of important fine-motor skills. You will discover the scope of art activities and how they can relate to all areas of your children‘s development. Instructions for additional projects will be available.


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DCF Training and Credentials-2010 Melissa H. Trentham - FL Department of Children and Families-Child Care Services Program This workshop will give an overview of the training and credential requirements to meet DCF Child Care Licensing Standards for employment.


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Discipline Through Leadership & Behavior Intervention Bradley Smith - National Institute of Childcare Management (NICCM) Bradley has been a student of leadership principles for about a decade and began seeing similarities seeing similarities between these concepts and discipline problems within the early childhood arena. He presents a lesson on arriving at discipline by being better leaders. This workshop focuses on the ―positive‖ side of discipline. Bradley talks about the power of a good Discipline Policy and what that policy should contain. The use of a Behavior Intervention Policy and Behavior Intervention Meetings are also discussed.

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From Good to Great: What Makes an Effective Teacher? Lorraine Breffni, Ed.D. - Mailman Segal Institute at Nova Southeastern University Great teachers make for great schools. But, what makes a great teacher? This presentation highlights recent studies which identify the key attributes of effective teachers. Tips and suggestions on how to nurture these qualities in your staff will also be offered.


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I Can Read! I Can Write! In Preschool Shelley Freshman - School Board of Broward County, FL Reading and writing is a process that cannot be separated. Children increase their vocabularies and command of the language through a variety of literacy experiences. This workshop will give the teacher and teacher assistant ideas for setting the stage for Emergent Literacy in their preschool classrooms.


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Improving Classroom Management Skills to Reduce Challenging Behavior Debbie Kay - Family Central, Inc. Are you seeing challenging behaviors in your classrooms? If you are, they can be reduced simply by creating developmentally appropriate classroom rules, schedules and routines, and using them intentionally. The training will include a power point, video clips, interactive activities and ―make ‗n takes‖. By the time you leave, you will be equipped to make the necessary changes in your classroom to help reduce inappropriate and disruptive behaviors.

Room 116 Preschool/VPK VPK Rm Capacity 20

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It’s Okay to Play in VPK: Train the Trainer Kerry M. Allen - ELC of Miami-Dade/Monroe Participants will be trained on how to present ―It‘s Okay to Play in VPK‖ to parents in their programs. They will receive the training manual and CD-ROM to present the training. The training is for directors who have VPK classrooms in their centers and will provide an overview, objectives, and instructional plan to conduct the workshop for their parents.

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“I’ve Told Her 100 Times! Why Won’t She Listen?” Eliana Millan, M.S., BCBA - Behavior Analysis, Inc. This presentation will provide participants with the common reasons why children do not always follow instructions while providing examples of commonly encountered scenarios in classrooms. Participants will also learn proven, practical, and easy to use strategies for improving this behavior. The presentation will conclude with an opportunity for participants to ask questions regarding their specific students.


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KidVisionVPK.org – How to Develop Exciting Learning Units Promoting VPK Education Standards Achievement Penny Bernath, M.S. - WPBT2 / KidVisionVPK.org Participants will learn how to develop exciting standards-rich thematic learning units. We will talk about integrating Florida VPK Education Standards lessons into typical preschool themes and how to use the KidVisionVPK.org video field trips to enhance the learning experience. Participants will review the VPK Standards then select a Kid Vision VPK field trip / theme. They will watch the field trip together, discuss the provided lesson plans that relate to the field trip, and review the student assessments and the take home pages. Attendees will brainstorm and present a hands-on standards lesson plan that will be original and useful!


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Legal Aspects of Recruiting, Interviewing, Hiring and Terminating Dawn K. Martini - Ronald V. McGuckin & Associates Most organizations invest a significant amount of time and money searching for employees. Therefore, it makes sense to be prepared to recruit and select the best possible candidates. This workshop will help you avoid the pitfalls resulting in legal dilemmas and hiring the wrong candidate. We will discuss relevant legal concepts including ―at-will‖ employment, and discrimination. Additionally we will look at the documentation recommended at all stages of the employment relationship.


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Let’s Get Physical with Zoo-Phonics! Kelly Hain - Zoo-Phonics Inc. Through the use of animal characters, this workshop will focus on the alphabet and the foundation of the reading and spelling process. The presenter will provide information on how to teach children to lock the sounds and shapes of the alphabet into memory through a body movement that directly relates to the Animal/Letter, allowing them to utilize the alphabet immediately. She will share strategies to teach children how to use these Animal/Letters to begin the sound blending process needed in reading, spelling and writing.

Room 118 Preschool/VPK Math & Science Rm Capacity 20

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Math and Literacy: Using Children’s Books to Foster Math Skills in Preschool Children Mary Jean Woika, M.Ed. & Wilma de Melendez, Ph.D. - Nova Southeastern University- Fischler School of Education and Human Resources During this fun-filled, hands-on session, participants will experience the process young children go through while engaging in mathematical inquiry. Favorite children‘s books will be viewed for illustrating important math skills to foster in young children. The Florida State and VPK standards will be reviewed so that participants can be made aware of how to link the activities planned based on the math concepts from the children‘s books. A discussion on the materials and environment needed to support children in math will also be described, in addition to the understanding that mathematical learning can happen in any setting.


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Missing Milestones: When To Take Action With Infants and Toddlers Dana Fredebaugh, Ph.D. - Nova Southeastern University This presenter will discuss the developmental milestones for infants and toddlers and describe many of the ―warning signs‖ that teachers and caregivers should look for that might indicate a developmental delay or disability. Each developmental area (cognitive, speech/language, motor, social/emotional, self-help) will be addressed as well as vision and hearing. Participants will discuss steps for documenting concerns and referring children for screening or assessment. The presenter will share useful resources including a list of websites and checklists.

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Media Center Preschool/VPK Music and Movement Rm Capacity 20

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Music, Movement and Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom Lori Burns - Pearson Education During this workshop, participants will explore the stages of music and motor development in young children and the connection to social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Participants will investigate the relationship between strong motor-skill development and musical concepts that relate to higher-level cognitive functions. Strategies and music activities discussed will include experiences that develop phonemic awareness and phonemic skills. Examples include songs, finger plays, rhyme, and sequence patterns.


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Observing and Documenting Leads to Scaffolding Children’s Education Shari E. Young M. Ed. & Marcy E. Samuels Through mini lectures, hand on experiences and lots of interaction, participants will learn how to observe and document their students objectively. They will explore how to reflect on their documentation and design documentation panels, in order to create developmentally appropriate curriculum that can be customized to each child‘s skills level. Through this process the children will be able to scaffold their education and teachers will build close relationships with their students and their families.


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Pesky Personalities – How to Influence By the Way We Interact Cynthia Krosky, CSP, LCSW - Achieving Corporate Excellence, Inc. Have you ever needed to relay information to a parent and felt like they weren‘t getting the message no matter what you have tried? Sometimes personality styles clash and communication becomes difficult. Early childhood educators understand how vital it is to share information accurately with families to prevent things from going wrong. Being able to demonstrate verbal and nonverbal skills that make communication clear also enhance the success of the child. This workshop will offer strategies to help participants give and receive information clearly.

Room 214 Infant/Toddler Speech and Language Development Rm Capacity 20

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Preschool Speech & Language Development Bonnie Beck, M.S.CCC. - Speech Language Pathologist General aspects of speech and language development in the birth to 5 child will be presented. Red flags will be discussed to assist staff with identification of potential problems and when to make appropriate referrals.

Room 301 Preschool/VPK Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Rm Capacity 30

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Rocks in My Head Lina Lloyd, M.Ed. - Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County Some people have rocks in their gardens; some people have them in their pockets. I have rocks in my head. Come and learn some fun and interesting ways you can include rocks across the curriculum. Participants will have the opportunity to experience hands-on activities as well as obtain valuable lesson/materials information to take home.

Mini Auditorium Preschool/VPK Art Rm Capacity 30

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Squish, Squash Open-Ended Art Lois Wachtel - Creative Beginning Steps Realizing that children grow socially, emotionally, mentally and physically in the art center, we will discuss many fun, creative, hands on, and imaginative ways to encourage this growth. Leaving behind the traditional paintbrush, we will think outside of the box, using plungers, plastic, balls, balloons, dog toys and so much more to create. In this totally interactive workshop, participants will understand the importance of the art process rather than the end products by becoming artists and creating various open-ended, fun and sometimes messy art projects.

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Room 550 Director

Administration

Rm Capacity 20

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Room 548 Director

Administration

Rm Capacity 20

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Super Strategies for Effective Supervision Carolynne Mather - Soaring for Success Consulting Firm Participants will explore several strategies to assist them in becoming more effective supervisors including how to handle common problems in the workplace and how to improve staff morale. We will also discuss effective ways to communicate with and motivate staff in an effort to increase productivity.

Room 312 Preschool/VPK

Science

Rm Capacity 35

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Supporting the Scientist in Your Classroom Catherine Radziewicz - The Parent/Teacher Foundation Are you afraid of science? Aren‘t sure what the scientific method is? Children already know what it is! Learn how to provide a simulating and supportive environment that encourages scientific exploration.


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The ABC’s of ESE: A Brief Introduction on Working with Children with Varying Exceptionalities Annette Rodriguez, Ed. S. This workshop will provide a brief introductory overview of varying exceptionalities with a focus on developmental delays, autism, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, and Speech /language disorders. The presenter will share helpful strategies and techniques for early childhood practitioners working with children who have special needs.

Room 219 Preschool/VPK

Special Needs Rm Capacity 20

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Room 110 Preschool/VPK Screening Assessment & Evaluation Rm Capacity 20

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The Power of Observation Jessica Novak - Family Central, Inc. When was the last time you sat down and observed a student‘s activities closely? Did you take anecdotal notes during the observation? Were you able to document the observation in a manner that made sense to you six months later? If these questions make you pause, then come refresh your note-taking skills and develop a keen eye for classroom observations! We know the early childhood environment is a busy work setting for children and adults, but teachers can capture important milestones for their students by planning observations and taking simple but revealing notes.


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Vision and Development: Seeing the Link Rick J. Morris, OD., FCOVD - The Center for Better Vision Vision is more than 20/20 eyesight. It embraces enormous areas of the brain; it is deeply involved in the autonomic nervous system. It is identified with all the muscles from head to hand to foot. Vision is so connected to your past and present performances that they must be interpreted as one action system and the two must be regarded as inseparable. Participants of the seminar will learn how vision development and child development are tightly linked together. Hands-on demonstrations and question and answer period will be included.

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Room 547 Director VPK - Administration Rm Capacity 20

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Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Accountability and Readiness Rate Melinda Webster & Hope Colle - Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning The presentation will outline the accountability system for Florida‘s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program and how VPK providers‘ readiness rates are calculated. Information about the components of the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) will also be shared with participants.

Room 106 Preschool/VPK Health & Safety Rm Capacity 20 S

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Water Safety for Kids Michelle Rice Alvarez, M.S.P.T. - Bo Alvarez Children‘s Foundation The Bo Alvarez Children‘s Foundation presents ―Water Safety for Kids‖ to help child care educators effectively teach water safety principles to their preschoolers. These valuable learning techniques and materials may save a child‘s life when outside the classroom.


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Why Do I Only Eat Macaroni and Cheese?" Patricia A. LaBella, CCC-SLP - Patricia A. LaBella and Associates, PA aka "PAL CLINIC" Do you have children in your care who just won‘t eat or are picky eaters? The presenter will discuss feeding difficulties with children and explore some of the myths associated with these issues. She will delve into the concept that eating is, in reality, a learned behavior and that the ―instinct‖ to eat only starts the process. Just as children learn to eat, so can children be taught to not eat by the circumstances of their lives. Enjoy a fascinating presentation that explores how and why this learning takes place.

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Workshop Session III 2:15 PM – 4:00 PM



Room 100 Preschool/VPK VPK - Brain Research & Cognitive Develop Rm Capacity 45

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Activities That Build The VPK Child’s Brain Suzanne Gellens, M.S. - Florida Association for the Education of Young Children This workshop will help teachers to take their existing curriculum and extend the learning to help children acquire the skills needed in life to make decisions, solve problems, and to think about what they are doing. Review and discuss the book ―Activities That Build the Young Child‘s Brain‖, a resource when writing lesson plans for the VPK classroom. Explore recent brain research and get tips on how to create a brain compatible classroom. The presenter will provide ideas for extension activities to use in learning centers and circle time and attendees will have an opportunity to participate in songs and a variety of fun activities that will compliment the classroom curriculum.


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Art as a Tool for Teaching Penny Phillips - Young At Art Children‘s Museum Penny Phillips will share her strategies in planning activities and present how art can be utilized in early childhood curricula. After an introduction to African culture, language and art, she will demonstrate and provide a hands-on activity related to the theme. The presenter will discuss how people in Africa use their natural resources and reuse their materials. Participants will discover how mathematical thinking, cognitive thinking and fine motor skills can be implemented in the hands-on art activity. They will also learn the importance of using different types of shapes, colors, and texture to enhance children‘s critical and creative thinking skills.


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Building Our Brains to Learn Patricia A. LaBella, CCC-SLP - Patricia A. LaBella and Associates, PA aka "PAL CLINIC" Many times children present differently in different environments, depending on structure, expectations and relationship dynamics. The presenter will focus on this concept to help participants maximize their children‘s learning potential. She will share her views on how a multi-faceted learning modality will allow children to be more effective in processing learned information and new skills in addition to complex sensory information which contributes to the development of skills necessary for independent and functional learning at home, school and in the community while eliminating unwanted behaviors.


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Cooking with Character Bill Griffin - Billgriffinbooks.com Cooking with Character contains over fifty recipes accompanied by fun character lessons and we will be cooking up a batch today! In today‘s presentation, we will discover Angry Mush (anger). When we lose our temper, it is something we do not need to retrieve. Next, we will cook a batch of Wordy Durds which teaches that letters must work together to make words. This is a fun and quick lesson on teamwork, not to mention delicious! Then we will also create a few Scar Faces. All people are unique- we come in different shapes, sizes, and color, but all of us need to be accepted. As we create this recipe, we learn the importance of acceptance.



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Room 546 Director Developmentally Appropriate Practices Rm Capacity 25

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Creating Quality Environments Brittney Coe, M.S. & Rebecca Freedman, M.S. - Mailman Segal Institute of Nova Southeastern University One of the most important responsibilities of a preschool director is to ensure that quality programming is happening in all classrooms. Presenters will share a list of classroom quality indicators including classroom management techniques, teacher-parent communication, and curriculum and teaching strategies. Along with the classroom quality indicator checklist, participants will review and discuss an observation form that was developed at MSI for accountability purposes. Presenters will show how these observations can be a useful tool when evaluating the staff throughout the school year.


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Dealing With Difficult Employees Bradley Smith - National Institute of Childcare Management (NICCM) As a Director/Manager/Leader your success is directly linked to the success of your employees. This session will give proven strategies and ideas for overcoming the challenges associated with difficult employees. Topics covered will include Dealing with Tardiness and Absences, Creative Methods for ―De-hiring‖, and Doing Negative Things in a Positive Manner such as using the concept of ―Mutual Resignation‖.


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Early Signs of Preschoolers on the Autism Spectrum Terri Shermett M.S. - School Board of Broward County The presenter will give a comprehensive overview of autism spectrum disorder and how it affects children‘s ability to function in all aspects of society. Participants will receive strategies on how to educate young children with autism along with information on community resources and public school preschool programs/services.


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Room 522 Director Cultural Diversity Rm Capacity 25

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How to Incorporate Diversity into the Classroom and at Parent Meetings Mirella Baker Bemmel, M.A. - Broward College Is your classroom culturally diverse? What happens when you cannot communicate with a parent because of a language barrier? This interactive workshop will explore different pathways for creating an environment rich in possibilities for exploring diversity. Participants will consider the practical implications of existing knowledge about cultural influences on early learning and review how to incorporate fun and safe activities into their program that address cultural, ethnic and linguistic differences. In addition, there will be discussions about interaction among colleagues, and the importance of making successful connections with parents.

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Infusing Math and Science into Literacy Ron Mohl - Lakeshore Learning Materials This hands-on, interactive session will keep you moving with ways to energize your students about learning crucial concepts! Save time by expanding on activities that you already execute on a daily basis. Add depth to the lessons you‘re doing with simple extensions that cover more standards. Learn to use homemade items that are easy to implement and great for sharing with parents!


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“I’ve Told Her 100 Times! Why Won’t She Listen?” Eliana Millan, M.S., BCBA - Behavior Analysis, Inc. This presentation will provide participants with the common reasons why children do not always follow instructions while providing examples of commonly encountered scenarios in classrooms. Participants will also learn proven, practical, and easy to use strategies for improving this behavior. The presentation will conclude with an opportunity for participants to ask questions regarding their specific students.


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KidVisionVPK.org – How to Develop Exciting Learning Units Promoting VPK Education Standards Achievement Penny Bernath, M.S. - WPBT2 / KidVisionVPK.org Participants will learn how to develop exciting standards-rich thematic learning units. We will talk about integrating Florida VPK Education Standards lessons into typical preschool themes and how to use the KidVisionVPK.org video field trips to enhance the learning experience. Participants will review the VPK Standards then select a Kid Vision VPK field trip / theme. They will watch the field trip together, discuss the provided lesson plans that relate to the field trip, and review the student assessments and the take home pages. Attendees will brainstorm and present a hands-on standards lesson plan that will be original and useful!


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Language Rich Environment Karen Britton & Lisa Hess - Broward County Schools/Gator Run Elementary The workshop will provide participants an overview of strategies to set up a language rich environment in their Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. Participants will see a variety of ways to incorporate language throughout the school day which in turn will enhance overall language development. Many of the strategies are easily implemented and can be used with all Pre-Kindergarten students, including those who have disabilities.


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Let’s Get Physical with Zoo-Phonics! Kelly Hain - Zoo-Phonics Inc. Through the use of animal characters, this workshop will focus on the alphabet and the foundation of the reading and spelling process. The presenter will provide information on how to teach children to lock the sounds and shapes of the alphabet into memory through a body movement that directly relates to the Animal/Letter, allowing them to utilize the alphabet immediately. She will share strategies to teach children how to use these Animal/Letters to begin the sound blending process needed in reading, spelling and writing.

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Math and Literacy: Using Children’s Books to Foster Math Skills in Preschool Children Mary Jean Woika, M.Ed. & Wilma de Melendez, Ph.D. - Nova Southeastern University- Fischler School of Education and Human Resources During this fun-filled, hands-on session, participants will experience the process young children go through while engaging in mathematical inquiry. Favorite children‘s books will be viewed for illustrating important math skills to foster in young children. The Florida State and VPK standards will be reviewed so that participants can be made aware of how to link the activities planned based on the math concepts from the children‘s books. A discussion on the materials and environment needed to support children in math will also be described, in addition to the understanding that mathematical learning can happen in any setting.


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New Directions:Using Observation-Based Assessment to Facilitate Intentional Curriculum Planning Carol Bellamy - Teaching Strategies Inc. Participants will explore the broad areas of development and learning and then look at specific objectives and dimensions which detail the skills and abilities for all children from birth through kindergarten. Explore ways that teachers can intentionally gather assessment information on objectives which may not present themselves naturally in the classroom. The trainer will suggest ways that teachers can plan developmentally appropriate experiences for the preschool classroom based on observational data. Participants will walk away with ready-to-implement ideas for individualizing the support they provide and to assist them to be more intentional and engaging with curriculum planning.

Room 111 Infant/Toddler Professional Development Rm Capacity 25

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Pesky Personalities – How to Influence By the Way We Interact. Cynthia Krosky, CSP, LCSW - Achieving Corporate Excellence, Inc. Have you ever needed to relay information to a parent and felt like they weren‘t getting the message no matter what you have tried? Sometimes personality styles clash and communication becomes difficult. Early childhood educators understand how vital it is to share information accurately with families to prevent things from going wrong. Being able to demonstrate verbal and nonverbal skills that make communication clear also enhance the success of the child. This workshop will offer strategies to help participants give and receive information clearly.


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Portfolios Made Easy Carol Lynne Jankowski - First United Methodist Preschool This workshop will focus on the importance of assessments and how to use them. The presenter will show you easy ways to record meaningful observations and include your students‘ work. She will explain how simple it is to compile a portfolio that can be used as an effective teaching tool and also provide an overview of your student‘s progress.


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Practical Strategies for Preventing and Dealing with Challenging Behavior

David Garcia, M.S., BCBA - Behavior Analysis, Inc.

This presentation will provide participants with the essential skills for maintaining a classroom environment that minimizes or eliminates disruptive and challenging behavior. The skills covered are simple, practical, and easy for any teacher to use. Ineffective strategies commonly used in classrooms will also be reviewed. Lastly, how to successfully deal with challenging behavior when it does occur is addressed. The presentation will conclude by providing participants with an opportunity to ask questions directly related to their classroom needs.

Mini Auditorium Infant/Toddler Developmentally Appropriate Practices Rm Capacity 150

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Semi-Homemade Toys for Infants & Toddlers Lois Wachtel - Creative Beginning Steps Bring your imaginations, as we join everyday items found in your home with Dollar Store wonders to create AMAZING toys and books, especially for Infants & Toddlers. Following in the footsteps of our children, we will learn by ―doing,‖ as we play with boxes to design classroom toys, fold paper to construct classroom books, and with an artistic twist, we will ―use‖ music as a toy in our classroom. Totally interactive, FUN learning!

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Snap, Crackle, Glop: The Importance of Sensory Activities in Infant and Toddler Early Learning Environments Sande Gruskin, M.S. Much learning for infants and toddlers takes place through the senses. Touching, seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting involve the active involvement of the child as he or she interacts with the environment. The refinement of the senses is also related to reading and writing. The senses feed imagination and cultivate the capacity to think (Eisner, 2003). This workshop will provide participants with the theoretical and developmental knowledge to select and/or develop open-ended, hands-on, sensory experiences that support infant and toddler sensory awareness and learning.


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Super Strategies for Effective Supervision Carolynne Mather - Soaring for Success Consulting Firm Participants will explore several strategies to assist them in becoming more effective supervisors including how to handle common problems in the workplace and how to improve staff morale. We will also discuss effective ways to communicate with and motivate staff in an effort to increase productivity.


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The 5 Ingredients of Active Learning Jessica Novak - Family Central, Inc. We all learn best when we are actively involved. Young children are no exception. Today‘s session will cover the five ingredients of active learning and discussion will focus on why active learning is such an integral part of early childhood and especially the High/Scope framework. Come prepared to create a successful recipe for your setting!

Room 213 Preschool/VPK Special Needs Rm Capacity 20

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The ABC’s of ESE : A Brief Introduction on Working with Children with Varying Exceptionalities Annette Rodriguez, Ed. S. This workshop will provide a brief introductory overview of varying exceptionalities with a focus on developmental delays, autism, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, and Speech /language disorders. The presenter will share helpful strategies and techniques for early childhood practitioners working with children who have special needs.


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The Art of Bookmaking and Creating Oral History Stories Dr. Nancy Brown & Dr. Janet Towell - Toppel Early Childhood Education Institute at FAU Participants will actually create original books with oral history stories through hands on bookmaking and storytelling experiences. They will learn how to use these experiences in a practical way in preschool classrooms, and to analyze the art of bookmaking in terms of the learning standards for literacy and school readiness. Participants will also discover new aspects of cultural diversity and identity development through shared storytelling.

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The Art of Playing – How to Play Strategy Games with Your Children While Enhancing TheirThinking Abilities and Life Skills Dori Larea, M.A. Ed. - Mind Lab Mind Lab — an innovative and research based program designed to teach students ages 4-6 to enhance their thinking skills and life skills using a series of well-selected board games. During the workshop teachers learn appealing thinking games designed to pose a mutual challenge for all ages through an experimental learning process. The games learned during the workshop create a stimulating and enjoyable environment that unites the learners for a spell of thinking and working together, and provides lots of fun.

Media Center Preschool/VPK Health & Safety Rm Capacity 25 S

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The Fitness Factor! Bonni Zipp - www.peaceandfitness.com This ―outside the box‖ workshop will explore the importance of caring for ourselves so that we are best able to take care of others. We will delve into the positive effects of healthy eating, daily exercise, deep breathing and meditation as tools to manage our stress as well as all other aspects of general wellness.


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Room 547 Preschool/VPK VPK-Professional Development Rm Capacity 20

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The VPK Teacher Toolkit Melinda Webster - Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning The presenter will share information on how to use the VPK Teacher Toolkit, an online resource. Specifically she will review the 2 areas, Language and Vocabulary Development and Mathematical Development. In addition, she will outline future topics that will soon be available, all free of charge. There will be a question and answer period after the presentation.

Room 312 Preschool/VPK Music and Movement Rm Capacity 45 S

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Thinking Outside the (Boom)Box Catherine Radziewicz - The Parent/Teacher Foundation Discover how to have fun using music throughout the day and across the curriculum. Learn how to use music to get children to listen, to learn classroom rules, ease transitions and focus attention. The presenter will share her thoughts on how to use music beyond just music time. Come and be ready to move!!

Room 209 Infant/Toddler Music and Movement Rm Capacity 25

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Turn off the Boombox; Turn on the Music Karen Kerr - The Parent/Teacher Foundation This session will focus on how and when to use music with infants and toddlers. Discuss what kind of music is appropriate and why the boombox should be off.

Room 215 Preschool/VPK Child Growth & Development Rm Capacity 20

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Vision and Development: Seeing the Link Rick J. Morris, OD., FCOVD - The Center for Better Vision Vision is more than 20/20 eyesight. It embraces enormous areas of the brain; it is deeply involved in the autonomic nervous system. It is identified with all the muscles from head to hand to foot. Vision is so connected to your past and present performances that they must be interpreted as one action system and the two must be regarded as inseparable. Participants of the seminar will learn how vision development and child development are tightly linked together. Hands-on demonstrations and question and answer period will be included.

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Water Safety for Kids Michelle Rice Alvarez, M.S.P.T. - Bo Alvarez Children‘s Foundation The Bo Alvarez Children‘s Foundation presents ―Water Safety for Kids‖ to help child care educators effectively teach water safety principles to their preschoolers. These valuable learning techniques and materials may save a child‘s life when outside the classroom.

SPECIAL SPONSOR

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SPONSORS

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CHAMPION SPONSORS

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Thank you to our Donors:

K. Lee and Douglas M. Tirpak

Larry and Joni Rein

Laurie Sallarulo

Penny and Mendel Westberry

Robin Bartleman

Stacy and Todd Angier

US Imaging Solutions

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PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT THE EXHIBITOR TABLES

211 Broward

Family Central Inc., Family Support Services

Party Caterers

AFLAC

Family Central Inc., Pintastic Pins for Teachers

Patricia A. LaBella & Associates PAL CLINIC

American Fund Raising Company, Inc.

Family Central Inc., Training Academy

Pearson Assessments

Becker School Supplies

Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FAEYC)

Pearson Education Supplemental

Behavior Analysis, Inc.

Florida Atlantic Univ., College of Education

PNC Bank “Title Sponsor”

Bill Griffin Books.Com

Florida Introduces Physical Activity And Nutrition to Youth (FLIPANY)

RENMEN Foundation

Black Child Development Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Fun Science

School Specialty Early Childhood

Blue Flamingo Gifts, Inc.

Heritage Treasures Screen Print & Embroidery

Soaring For Success Consulting Firm

Bo Alvarez Children's Foundation

Humanics Publishing

Teaching Strategies, Inc.

Brainheart Guidance Inc.

JK Children Supply Inc.

The Conde Center for Chiropractic

Neurology

Broward Assoc. for the Education of Young Children (BAEYC)

Kaplan Early Learning Company

The Education Team

Broward County Family Success/Community Action

Partnership

Kidokinetics

The Parent/Teacher

Foundation

Building Foundations KIDSTASTIK Early Learning Services, Inc.

Vera Rekstad Design

Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center

Lakeshore Learning Materials Visible Thinking Miami

Creative Beginning Steps

Mind Lab

Wachovia a Wells Fargo Company

DC Direct Supplies

National Institute of Child Care Management (NICCM)

Young at Art Children's Museum

EDUCA Vision, Inc.

Our Precious Pieces Yummy In My Tummy, LLC

Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.

Zoo-Phonics, Inc.

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A.D. Henderson welcomes all participants of the Broward Early Childhood Educators Conference

SPECIAL SPONSOR

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KEY SPONSOR

Program Booklet-Broward Early Childhood Educators Conference 2010

Documents

Transcript of Program Booklet-Broward Early Childhood Educators Conference 2010